[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62525-62526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24768]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC19-39-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-511); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collection FERC-511 (Transfer of Hydropower License) and 
submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments 
directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the 
Commission as explained below. On August 29, 2019, the Commission 
published a Notice in the Federal Register (84 FR 45489) in Docket No. 
IC19-39-000 requesting public comments. The Commission received no 
public comments.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due December 16, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by OMB Control No. 1902-
0069, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs: [email protected]. Attention: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in 
Docket No. IC19-39-000, by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     Mail: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of 
the Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support 
by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-511, Transfer of Hydropower License.\1\
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    \1\ The title is being updated to Transfer of Hydropower License 
(rather than Transfer of Electric License).
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    OMB Control No.: 1902-0069.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-511 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected under the

[[Page 62526]]

requirements of FERC-511 to implement the statutory provisions of 
Sections 4(e) and 8 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).\2\ Section 4(e) 
authorizes the Commission to issue licenses for the construction, 
operation and maintenance of reservoirs, powerhouses, and transmission 
lines or other facilities necessary for the development and improvement 
of navigation and for the development, transmission, and utilization of 
power.\3\ Section 8 of the FPA provides that the voluntary transfer of 
any license is made only with the written approval of the Commission. 
Any successor to the licensee may assign the rights of the original 
licensee but is subject to all of the conditions of the license. The 
information filed with the Commission is a mandatory requirement 
contained in the format of a written application for transfer of 
license, executed jointly by the parties of the proposed transfer. The 
sale or merger of a licensed hydroelectric project may occasion the 
transfer of a license. The Commission's staff uses the information 
collection to determine the qualifications of the proposed transferee 
to hold the license and to prepare the transfer of the license order. 
Approval by the Commission of transfer of a license is contingent upon 
the transfer of title to the properties under license, delivery of all 
license instruments, and evidence that such transfer is in the public 
interest. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 9.
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    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 797(e) and 801.
    \3\ Refers to facilities across, along, from, or in any of the 
streams or other bodies of water over which Congress has 
jurisdiction under its authority to regulate commerce with foreign 
nations and among the several States, or upon any part of public 
lands and reservations of the United States, or for the purpose of 
utilizing the surplus water or water power from any Government dam.
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    Type of Respondent: Hydropower Project Licensees.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \4\ The Commission estimates the annual 
burden and cost \5\ for the information collection as follows.
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    \4\ Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or 
disclose or provide information to or for a federal agency. See 5 
CFR 1320 for additional information on the definition of information 
collection burden.
    \5\ The FERC 2019 average salary plus benefits for one FERC 
full-time equivalent (FTE) is $167,091/year (or $80.00/hour). 
Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set (wages and 
benefits) for completing and filing FERC-511 is comparable to the 
Commission's skill set.

                                                        FERC-511: Transfer of Hydropower License
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                                                   Annual number                                                                               Cost per
                                     Number of     of responses    Total number   Average burden hrs. & cost   Total annual burden hours &    respondent
                                    respondents   per respondent   of responses          per response               total annual cost            ($)
                                             (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..............    (5) / (1)
                                                                             (3)
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Hydropower Project Licensees....              46               1              46  40 hrs.; $3,200...........  1,840 hrs.; $147,000.........       $3,200
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: November 7, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-24768 Filed 11-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P